“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9
As a child, my mother always told me to be a peacemaker. This meant to stop fighting with my brothers and sisters about what TV show we were going to watch or who got to eat the last green popsicle. Peacemaking meant sacrificing my wants, staying quiet to keep everyone happy, and avoiding conflict.
But as I grew older, I thought about Jesus, the Prince of Peace. I realized that his life ended with unsettled people committing a horrible act of violence against him: the crucifixion. I started to consider that if Jesus’ peacemaking caused such upheaval, I might be doing it wrong.
Jesus did not stay quiet to keep everyone happy. He spoke up against unjust social and religious rules. He acted contrary to social norms. He made powerful people angry. His peacemaking was not about keeping people comfortable; it was about building the kingdom of God despite the personal cost. It was about bringing peace to those who had none. His work was intentionally disruptive in the short term, because Jesus was thinking about a more perfect future.
Jesus understood that peacemaking was more than a feeling; it was long, hard work. As the perfect peacemaker, Jesus knew that peacemakers rarely see the true peace they work so hard for. So, he promised inner peace for those who followed him: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” (John 15:27).
So be brave. Be a peacemaker. Standing up for what’s right sometimes creates conflict, but it leads to a more just world. It brings us closer to the kingdom of God. And when we work for justice, we can feel inner peace in the midst of a warring world.
This week’s Reflections column was written by Annisija Hunter of the Jesus Christ Church of Latter Day Saints.
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